AN OSCAR contender will be trying to knock Lion off the top of the Aussie box office this week.

Australian cinema-goers can now finally see Casey Affleck's acclaimed performance in Manchester by the Sea, which is up for six Academy Awards later this month.

Also debuting this week are Matthew McConaughey's prospecting drama Gold and Peter Berg's film based on the real-life events of the Boston Marathon bombing.

Here are this week's highlights of the big screen and why you should see them:

Manchester by the Sea (M)

Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck star in Manchester by the Sea.Claire_Folger

An uncle is forced to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies in this Oscar contender.

Why you should see it: Thankfully Australian audiences won't miss out on Kenneth Lonergan's latest piece of melancholy cinema. Casey Affleck's grounded but powerful performance deserves to pick up the Best Actor Oscar. Read the review.

Gold (M)

Matthew McConaughey in a scene from Gold.Lewis Jacobs

Kenny Wells, a prospector desperate for a lucky break, teams up with a similarly eager geologist and sets off on a journey to find gold in the uncharted jungle of Indonesia.

Why you should see it: Gold boasts an impressively performance by Matthew McConaughey, but it's pretty much the only glittering nugget in a film that's silver at best. Read the review.

Patriots Day (M)

Mark Wahlberg in a scene from Patriots Day.Karen Ballard

An account of Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis's actions in the events leading up to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists behind it.

Why you should see it: Director Peter Berg's latest offering is, surprisingly, a solidly crafted tribute to the heroes of a real-life tragedy. Read the review.

CONTINUING

Split (M)

James McAvoy in a scene from the movie Split.John Baer

Kevin is a man with at least 23 different personalities. While he has lived a relatively stable life and managed to hold down a job thanks to his psychologist, things begin to unravel when one of his alters takes control and kidnaps three teenage girls.

Why you should see it: James McAvoy's performance, which is essentially six characters rolled into one, is nothing short of impressive. Written, directed and self-financed by M Night Shyamalan, Split is a tense, well-paced psychological thriller which proves Shyamalan is back in top form. Read the interview.

Live By Night (MA 15+)

Ben Affleck plays a gangster in Live By Night.Claire Folger

A group of Boston-bred gangsters set up shop in balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, facing off against the competition and the Ku Klux Klan

Why you should see it: Ben Affleck directs, produces and stars in this visually stylish period crime drama that doesn't quite deliver the full package.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (MA 15+)

Milla Jovovich saves the world one last time in Resident Evil: The Final Chapter.Ilze Kitshoff

Following the events of "Resident Evil: Retribution", Project Alice is forced to race against time as the villainous Red Queen attempts to destroy the final remnants of humanity.

Why you should see it: This final instalment is one for the fans, who have followed this video game adaptation from the beginning. Don't go without seeing at least one of the previous films first.

Lion (PG)

Dev Patel and Rooney Mara in the Australian film Lion.Mark Rogers

A five-year-old Indian boy gets lost on the streets of Calcutta, thousands of kilometres from home. He survives many challenges before being adopted by a couple in Australia; 25 years later, he sets out to find his lost family.

Why you should see it: Aussie director Garth Davis's feature film debut recounts the real-life experiences of Saroo Brierly with beautiful visuals, sensitivity and a tremendous cast. Five-year-old Indian actor Sunny Pawar nearly steals the film from Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman. Read the interview.

Vin Diesel's Xander Cage is left for dead after an incident, though he secretly returns to action for a new, tough assignment with his handler Augustus Gibbons.

Why you should see it: Xander Cage fans will be happy to see his return to the big screen. If you enjoy delightfully trashy action flicks of the late '90s and early 2000s then you should enjoy this too. Aussie export Ruby Rose also stars.